My whole business is based on bringing together groups of like-minded people - and that part of the job I love.
Organising a holiday for a private group? Nightmare.
The in-fighting, the people that want to join but can’t ride, the side emails I get from members of the group that want priority, don’t want to share a room with someone, want a special type of saddle or horse, or want to know they can stop anytime if they want to. It’s a big high-school energy ball of confusion and often disappointment.
The wrong people come because they have FOMO, not because their life dream is a riding holiday.
The ones that don’t really want to be there ask 1000 questions because they are under-informed and haven’t done their own research. They’re also looking for an out. A situation they can deem untenable but out of their control so they are blameless for pulling out.
I find people exaggerate on their rider forms the most in this sitution. Then, on the ride they become a big problem for the guides who have to turn into nannies for a week. The poor horses have their backs slammed and mouths pulled but on the flip side they get to stop and munch all they like as their clueless rider perches on top taking selfies while a line of horse traffic builds up behind them.
I don’t take many private bookings and honestly, when they come in, I sometimes archive them without a response.
The best safaris, when the magic happens, are the ones when everyone wants to be there. Guests think that organising a private safari is a gift but not all commission is not created equal. If guests don’t fit the Black Saddle profile they really shouldn’t be there, even on a private safari.
I prefer to stick to my groups of self-selected bonafide horse people.